Tuesday 16 February 2010

Skirts for Men

Here is an article designed to challenge the social perceptions us men often come across without even realising it. Us men are in fact very strictly pushed into a corner. Clothes shops very rarely sell bright or varied colours for men, and they certainly don't sell skirts for men. Us men are only allowed to wear trousers in an office, whilst women can wear trousers, shorts or skirts. Our choices are very limited. Many of us are also made to believe from a very young age that to do anything considered by society as feminine is some sort of 'high crime'! Us men are accused of cross-dressing, whilst women can wear anything from either the men's or women's departments without anyone looking twice. Women fought for, and quite rightly won the right to wear trousers. Men should be allowed to wear skirts. Isn't that what gender equality is all about?

This is all, of course, social conditioning and has no basis in fact or logic. For instance, throughout the ages, what societies have considered masculine or feminine has varied immensely. Roman gladiators, ancient warriors and of course Scottish men all wore skirt-like garments, whilst never having their masculinity called into question. Men in several parts of the world today wear skirt-like garments, including but not limited to the Sarong of south-east Asia, the Lungi of India, the Lava-lava of Pacific Islands, the Scottish and Irish kilt and so on.

Then there is the health argument. Skirts are more suited to the male anatomy for obvious reasons. Men have testicles which need to be kept cooler than the rest of the body. Why should us men be forced to wear trousers or shorts, especially in hot weather? There is also evidence that not being able to cool the testicles properly leads to testicular cancer and other ailments.

So why not open your minds, people? What is, fundamentally wrong with men wearing skirts? It's time for some real gender equality - one that works both ways!

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